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The Wings of a Dove

Several years ago I was sitting outside enjoying the beauty of a Big Sky Montana summer morning. It was a beautiful morning and I was dwarfed by the panoramic views from our yard; 360 degrees of unobstructed, bright blue sky filled with large white puffy clouds.

God’s creation is glorious!

I noticed, circling high above my head, a dark spec on this brilliant blue background. Getting lower with each circling pattern, it didn’t take long to identify this seeker in the sky as a crow. He finally descended to the ground, having spotted his morning’s meal from such a lofty perch. I couldn’t see what he was pecking at but no doubt, it was the carnage left from a coyote’s kill the night before.

I told our daughter, “Imagine how disgusting it would be to spend your life eating what something else had killed and left to rot in the field.”

By now you must be asking yourself “where is she going with this? I thought she was going to write a message. Oh, but I am.

Sometimes it takes a while to get through the introduction to the meat of the message but here it is. This crow reminded me of the raven in Genesis 8.

Noah and his family had been on the ark for over five months. The rain had stopped and the ark rested on the top of a mountain. No more floating! Noah waited a bit and then he sent out a raven, which the Bible says flew around until the waters dried up. Noah also sent out a dove “to see if the water had receded but the dove found no resting place” so it returned to the ark.

Why didn’t the raven come back too?

It had a ready food source. The bodies of the animals which had drown provided him an unlimited food supply. They also provided him with a place to rest. He could sit on their decaying bodies and didn’t need the trees to rest in. It didn’t bother him a bit, he was a scavanger.

The dove, on the other hand, needed life – green shoots and seeds to sustain its life so it returned to the ark. Noah waited seven days and sent the dove out again. It returned that evening with a freshly plucked olive leaf. Noah knew that life was returning to the earth. He waited another seven days and sent the dove out again. This time the dove didn’t return. Noah knew it had found a place to rest and food to sustain it.

I’m so glad that our Father uses a dove to symbolize the Holy Spirit and not the raven or the crow.

“So Jesus was baptized. As soon as he came up out of the water, the sky opened, and he saw God’s Spirit coming down on him like a dove. 17 A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the one I love. I am very pleased with him.” Matthew 3:16-17 ERV

A dove, bringing signs of life – how appropriate, a dove resting on the One who is the giver of life! The Holy Spirit has been sent to fill and empower each believer as a sign of our new life in Jesus Christ.

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 NLT

This wonderful life is a free gift from God. A life of sin is death (crow’s food) but our new life is a gift from God – abundant and free!

Our life produces fruit; love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, meekness, faith. The fruit of the Spirit (dove’s food) is fresh. We need to make sure there aren’t any ravens circling over our heads. The Holy Spirit desires to fill us with peace. Be full of abundant life!

“If your thinking is controlled by your sinful self, there is spiritual death. But if your thinking is controlled by the Spirit, there is life and peace.” Romans 8:6 ERV

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Dar gracias

El sol aún no ha  salido, pero sé que lo hará, así que daré las gracias. Los pájaros no han empezado a cantar, pero  pronto y espero su canción con un corazón agradecido.

Todavía no he hablado con mis hijos, pero sé que sus textos y llamadas vendrán hoy, así que digo “gracias Señor” por bendecirme con sus vidas. Mi marido todavía está durmiendo, pero cuando se  despierte me dará un beso y me dirá que me ama y así que le daré las gracias.

Tengo fuerza y salud esta mañana,  así que doy las gracias. Hay electricidad en mi casa y comida en los  armarios,  así que doy las gracias.

¡Hay tantas cosas que estar agradecidos porque sólo tengo que dar gracias al Señor porque es bueno!

“Entonces gritaron al Señor en sus problemas. Y los salvó de su sufrimiento. 20  Envió Su Palabra y los sanó. Y los salvó de la tumba.  21  ¡Den gracias a Jehová por Su bondad amorosa y Sus grandes obras a los hijos de los hombres! 22  Dénle dones de agradecimiento y hablen de Sus obras con cantos de gozo.” Salmo 107:19-22 NLV

Tenemos mucho por lo que estar agradecidos. Personalmente,  pueden estar en un lugar difícil, las cosas pueden no ser como les gustaría que fueran, pero Dios tiene el control y se puede confiar en Él, así que confíe en él.

Los israelitas abandonaron Egipto e inmediatamente comenzaron a quejarse, no veían la visión de Dios para el futuro,  pero es buena, muy buena. Los discípulos se quejaron a Jesús de que  no tenían  suficiente comida para alimentar al 5000, todo lo que tenían eran cinco panes y dos peces. Pero Dios tenía un  plan y todos comían su relleno y luego recogieron las sobras.

“No te preocupes. Aprende a orar sobre todo. Da gracias a Dios mientras le pides lo que necesitas. 7  La paz de Dios es mucho mayor de lo que la mente humana puede entender. Esta paz mantendrá sus corazones y mentes a través de Cristo Jesús.” Filipenses 4:6-7 NLV

Oren acerca de sus necesidades, den gracias y que su corazón se llene de paz.

¡Den las gracias!

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Life’s Greatest Blessings

A year ago I started keeping “My Gratitude List”. I would pen a couple of lines in my morning journal, two or three things, that I was grateful for from the day before. In December the list focused on wonderful gifts that the Lord has blessed me with – strength, health, joy, a day of baking, time spent with friends and family. After the first of the year I continued recording my gratitude and my gifts, thanking the Father each day for specific things.

As I flip back through the pages my heart is warmed by the many times that I make reference to my kids, grandkids and great grand. As a mother, I have much to be thankful for.

Some years back I wrote this on my Facebook News Feed. I believe it was one of those things you are supposed to copy and share. The words rang true then and still do today.

“I loved you the minute I knew I was pregnant. I loved you the minute you were born. Then I saw your face and fell in love some more. You were only a minute old but I knew I would die for you. To this day I still would. When I choose to have children I made a conscious decision, to allow my heart to walk around outside my body. You, my child are my heart.”

Once I begin to focus my thoughts on my kids it doesn’t take long before I am focused on my heavenly Father and His love for me. The capacity to love deeply and unconditionally as a parent comes from Him. The ability to forgive and not be bitter come from Father God. The willingness to forget the struggles and focus on the “best” all comes from the Lord.

We are His children and He has chosen to forgive, forget, encourage, correct, instruct, praise and nuture each and everyone of us. He doesn’t grow weary by our questions, He’s always there to calm our fears. Never has He abandon us or left us on our own – even when we’ve told Him we don’t need Him, that we can handle it without Him.

Our family is far from perfect. I say that tongue-in-cheek because none of us are. I was not the perfect daughter and I haven’t been the perfect mom. That’s why having a perfectly loving, heavenly Father means so much to me. He sees my failures, covers me with forgiveness and sets me on the right path.

“The Lord is kind and merciful.  He is patient and full of love. 9 He does not always criticize.
 He does not stay angry with us forever. 10 We sinned against him, but he didn’t give us the punishment we deserved. 11 His love for his followers is as high above us as heaven is above the earth. 12 And he has taken our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west.
13 The Lord is as kind to his followers as a father is to his children.” Psalm 103:8-13 ERV

How could I limit my love when He never has! Our names are written on the Father’s gratitude list.

“We pray that the Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father will comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say. God loved us and gave us through his grace a wonderful hope and comfort that has no end.” II Thessalonians 2:16-17 ERV

Counting my blessings today – my relationship with my heavenly Father is the first thing on my heart followed by my family.

I am grateful for the full and rich life I have!

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Give Thanks

The sun hasn’t come up yet but I know it will so I will give thanks. The birds haven’t started singing but they will soon and I await their song with a grateful heart.

I haven’t spoken to my children yet but I know that their texts and calls will come today so I say “thank you Lord” for blessing me with their lives. My husband is still sleeping but when he wakes up he will give me a kiss and tell me he loves me and so I will give thanks.

I have strength and health this morning so I give thanks. There is electricity in my home and food in the cupboards so I give thanks.

There are so many things to be thankful for I just have to give thanks to the Lord for He is good!

“Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble. And He saved them from their suffering. 20 He sent His Word and healed them. And He saved them from the grave. 21 Let them give thanks to the Lord for His loving-kindness and His great works to the children of men! 22 Let them give Him gifts of thanks and tell of His works with songs of joy.” Psalm 107:19-22 NLV

We have much to be thankful for. Personally you may be in a difficult spot, things may not be as you would like them to be but God is in control and He can be trusted, so trust Him.

The Israelites left Egypt and immediately began to complain, they didn’t see God’s vision for the future but it is good, very good. The disciples complained to Jesus that they didn’t have enough food to feed the 5000 – all they had were five loaves of bread and two fish. But God had a plan and everyone ate their fill and then they collected the leftovers.

“Do not worry. Learn to pray about everything. Give thanks to God as you ask Him for what you need. 7 The peace of God is much greater than the human mind can understand. This peace will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NLV

Pray about your needs, give thanks and let your heart be filled with peace.

Give thanks!

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Paid In Full

I don’t know if you have ever experienced the worry of having a large and looming debt but I have. The thought of that still brings a churning in the pit of my stomach.

Some dear, wonderful, loving friends learned of our situation and they paid what we owed! Oh my! The thankfulness we felt and still feel is beyond words.

This morning I am thankful to say that there is only one debt, make that two, that I owe.

“ Do not owe anyone anything, but love each other. Whoever loves his neighbor has done what the Law says to do.” Romans 13:8 NLV

“We love because God first loved us.” I John 4:19 ERV

The debt I owe now is a debt to love! Love God and love others – that is my indebtness.

There’s a song that means so much to me, a song of thanksgiving for who Jesus is and what He has done for me.

“Here I am to worship, Here I am to bow down, Here I am to say that you’re my God, You’re altogether lovely, Altogether worthy, Altogether wonderful to me. I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross. I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross. Here I am to worship…” By Chris Tomlin

“I’ll never know how much it cost”, stop and think about that!

How much did it cost Jesus to bear our sin? It cost Him relationship with His Father. It cost Him his home in heaven, His reputation. He was hated by men and hated by the realm of Satan and his demons. They spent all their time trying to destroy Him.

He was misunderstood by His friends and family. It cost Him His physical life, which He laid down willing, but only for three days and then He rose again. And when He did, our debt was paid.

“You were spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were not free from the power of your sinful self. But God gave you new life together with Christ. He forgave all our sins. 14 Because we broke God’s laws, we owed a debt—a debt that listed all the rules we failed to follow. But God forgave us of that debt. He took it away and nailed it to the cross. 15 He defeated the rulers and powers of the spiritual world. With the cross he won the victory over them and led them away, as defeated and powerless prisoners for the whole world to see.” Colossians 2:13-15 ERV

Debt forgiven. Jesus’ final words on the cross were “It is finished”. He could have said “paid in full” because His death removed our debt and brought us into a new relationship with the Father.

I love the Father because of His great love for me and I will love others because of His great love for them. “Here I am to worship” and to say thank you for paying my debt.

Thank you Jesus for giving up all you had to remove my debt! Thank you for marking it paid in full!

“He paid for our sins with His own blood. He did not pay for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world.” I John 2:2 NLV

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Where Do You Hang Your Hat

I got up this morning and headed to the front door to let in the cool morning air and there it was. The hat rack.

Dave made it a couple years ago so we would have a handy place to hang our coats and hats. I love it! There’s room for our big cowboy hats and also smaller hooks for the ball caps that we wear on our walks. It’s always full.

This morning as I opened the door I was reminded of the words of an old expression – not a Scripture, just as expression. “Now that’s something I can hang my hat on”. For those of you who have never heard it let me share the meaning.

When you can “hang your hat on” something it means it’s dependable, reliable, trustworthy and believable. i.e. They’re someone I can hang my hat on, they’ve never let me down.

As we start into November, the month of giving thanks, it’s important to evaluate what we can depend on. Where do we hang our hat?

“Forever, O Lord, Your Word will never change in heaven. 90 You are faithful to all people for all time. You have made the earth, and it stands. 91 They stand today by Your Law, for all things serve You. 92 I would have been lost in my troubles if Your Law had not been my joy. 93 I will never forget Your Word for by it You have given me new life. 94 I am Yours. Save me, for I have looked to Your Law. 95 The sinful wait to destroy me, but I will think about Your Word. 96 I have seen that all things have an end, even if they are perfect, but Your Word is without end.” Psalm 119:89-96 NLV

There is only ONE that I know to be completely faithful and trustworthy, that is God and His word. God’s word is the exact representation of Him in this world. If we want to know how He thinks we read His word. If we desire to see how the Father will act and respond we read His word. When we search for instruction and wisdom we find it all in His word. I am thankful for the infallible Word of God. It has stood the test of time. It will never pass away.

Years ago we used this expression, “God said it, I believe it, that settles it”. However, the real truth is this. God says it and whether we believe it or not it’s settled. God’s Word is always reliable, always true.

Yes, the Word of God is where I hang my hat!

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Present or Absent

Do they still have Attendance Charts in school? It’s been so long since we had small children in a classroom, I don’t really know how attendance is taken in the computer driven classroom. Teachers were so creative in building their bulletin boards around a specific teaching or seasonal theme and somewhere on that board was the attendance chart.

I’d like to talk with you this morning about two opposing ideas; presence and absence. The two walk hand in hand. King David wrote the following in the Psalms.

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 NKJV

He found that being in the presence of the Lord brought fullness of joy to his life. And in turn, there was absence; the absence of discontentment, sorrow, defeat, anger, selfishness. If a life is full of joy then there is obviously no room for any of these other characteristics.

A prophecy was given about Christ nearly four hundred years before He was born and it said He would heal the broken hearted, cleanse the leper, heal the sick, set those who were imprisoned free. This was His purpose and those who were touched by His presence experienced the joy of having their circumstances change.

God doesn’t want us to be living in fear. That’s why the Bible is filled with so many verses on not being afraid. The presence of God is the absence of fear.

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. 32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.” Luke 12:31-32 NLV

I use this verse as a barometer in my life. When I find myself becoming anxious, stressed or worried I realize that I have moved from the Father’s presence and that’s why there is an absence of joy in my heart.

Let’s take a look at heaven. What makes heaven, heaven? It’s the presence of God, the Father. When we enter there we will be overwhelmed by His presence. We are told there is constant singing and praising God. Constant joy in His presence!

We are also told that there is an absence in heaven.

“I heard a loud voice coming from heaven. It said, ‘See! God’s home is with men. He will live with them. They will be His people. God Himself will be with them. He will be their God. 4 God will take away all their tears. There will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All the old things have passed away.’ 5 Then the One sitting on the throne said, ‘See! I am making all things new. Write, for these words are true and faithful.'” Revelation 21:3-5 NLV

While we live on earth where these things are present – tears, death, sorrow, crying and pain – we have a promise from the Lord.

“I leave you peace. It is my own peace I give you. I give you peace in a different way than the world does. So don’t be troubled. Don’t be afraid.” John 14:27 ERV

Joy and peace are our inheritance. When we are feeling troubled and distressed we need to draw close to Jesus. Tell Him about those things that are upsetting us, let Him handle them.

Be present. In His presence is fullness of joy!

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Good & Healthy

How many of you are already planning your holiday baking and the menus for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals? Does the word “healthy” fit with those culinary delights? Or is your attitude more along the lines of indulgence and it’s only once a year?

I was going to use the “just this once” phrase but realized that has kind of been a pattern of late. Camping and cookies – just this once. Grandchildrens birthday cupcakes – just this once (three months in a row). Yes, I’ve let those just-this-once treats and snacks add some extra pounds that need to be removed.

So, this morning I’m going to talk about exercise for a bit. Not for you but for me. I need to put this out there and be accountable.

When we first realize that we “need” to exercise it’s never pleasant. Accepting that we are out of shape and not as healthy as we should be is the first step. So we decide to exercise.

The first few days we have a real commitment or at least that’s what we tell ourself. But then comes day seven or eight; and it becomes harder to stay committed to the goal. Our muscles hurt, we’re not seeing any results yet, we start making excuses and when we do that we are on your way to failure.

I know, I’ve failed many times.

Now think back to our childhood days – exercise wasn’t a bad word. In fact, it was called play. To be outside with our buddies playing ball, running through the yard playing tag or football. Going hiking to your favorite fishing spot or walking the mile to the swimming pool in the afternoon heat (my personal favorite). It was fun and we were in shape.

Of course you know this is going to have a spiritual correlation.

When we face trials and temptations it is an opportunity to exercise our faith. James tells us to count it joy because we will be developed and end up lacking nothing. Exercising our faith builds spiritual muscle.

“My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. 3 You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested. 4 But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything.” James 1:2-4 CEV

Facing trials is like building muscle. At first we see little victories but then to continue to develop a muscle we must increase the weight, the repetition or both.

In walking with the Lord, we’re never left to do this on our own. We have a great coach who is with us every step. Under His direction and inspiration we come out the winner.

“You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted. But God can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptations.” I Corinthians 10:13 CEV

Jesus knows what this is all about because He went through every temptation we experience while he was here on earth. Who better to coach us than someone whose been there, done that and emerged as the Champion of Champions!

“We have a great high priest who has gone to live with God in heaven. He is Jesus the Son of God. So let us continue to express our faith in him. 15 Jesus, our high priest, is able to understand our weaknesses. When Jesus lived on earth, he was tempted in every way. He was tempted in the same ways we are tempted, but he never sinned. 16 With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:14-16 ERV

Thank you Lord for coaching me through life and providing all the help I need to develop and finish as a winner! And thank you for giving me the power to resist that pecan pie and stay on track with my daily exercise!

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Mistaken Identity

Yesterday Dave and I went for drive to some small ranching towns near where we are camped. I was talking about a friend who lives there and how it’s been over thirty years since we’ve seen her. I wished we had thought to contact her and tried to arrange a meet up.

We stopped at a bar-b-que place for lunch and were seated near the window. Dave looked out and said “I think that’s her”. I did a double take and sure enough, it looked like her. I headed out of the restaurant and down the street. I called her name but no response. When I got closer I realized it was a case of mistaken identity and I apologized to the woman.

It was a disappointment to say the least.

Has anyone ever mistaken you for someone else? I know I’ve had it happen to me a few times. It’s pretty easy to do. It’s also something that happens every day when it comes to character.

A person who is clean and sober runs into someone they knew when they were an addict and they get treated as if they hadn’t changed. A person who was selfish and self-indulgent turns over a new leaf but they’re held at arms length by those they have slighted.

David, the shepherd boy, had a case of mistaken identity. Golaith, the seasoned warrior, mistook David for an unskilled, scrawny youth. What Golaith didn’t see was the bold, God-fearing, young man who had killed a lion and a bear. Goliath’s case of mistaken identity brought him to his death.

“Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory.” I John 5:4 CEV

We are as guilty as Golaith in some of our misjudgements.

We look in the mirror and see ourselves as weak or inadequate. Moses told God that he couldn’t deliver the Israelites because he stuttered. But God saw the man Moses was on the inside and used him anyway. I’ve heard it said that God doesn’t choose the qualified, instead He equips the willing.

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” II Corinthians 5:17 NLT

What are some of the things you, or others, have been saying you can’t do? You’re not qualfied, you’re not equipped to handle. We have a new identity – we are empowered by God for the task at hand.

“I can do all things because Christ gives me the strength.” Philippians 4:13 NLV

Don’t look back at who you once were. Look forward at who God has called you to be!

I am so thankful for my new identity in Christ!

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So Yummy!

The last few days we have been off on another adventure in our fifth wheel trailer. We are enjoying the change of scenery and weather. The mornings have been below freezing.

I’m very thankful for a good heater!

As I sat here this morning I began making a mental list of the baking that needs to be done. The change in weather prompts a desire to bake and to make warm dishes. There’s just something about the smell of cookies, banana bread and cinnamon rolls that make a home seem cozier.

Warm soup simmering on the stove and fresh bread in the oven are some of the best parts of autumn and winter. My most favorite part is sharing what I’ve made with family and friends. Feeding those I love brings me great joy.

I think I get that from my Father. He enjoys feeding people.

In the Garden of Eden He made sure Adam and Eve had every kind of fruit and vegetable their hearts desired. When there was a famine He sent Jacob and his family to Egypt where there was plenty to eat. When the Israelites complained that they didn’t have enough to eat in the desert He sent bread from heaven every morning and supplied them with an over abundance of quail.

Jesus fed over five thousand men and their families with a boy’s lunch and had leftovers. After his resurrection He had a morning meal of grilled fish waiting for his disciples on the seashore when they returned from a night’s work.

The Bible even tells us about a banquet that will be served at the end of the age called the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. It will be a feast like none other.

The Father provides for those He loves!

“For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. 8 Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! 9 Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need.” Psalm 34:7-9 NLV

King David said that God’s word is sweeter than honeycomb. I agree. My life with the Lord is so good. Nothing can compare with the joy, the peace, the unconditional love that the Father shares with me.

For those who are hungering for more in life I encourage you to come. Taste and see that the Lord is good! A life centered on Him is delicious!

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